Fence-post



`(N o Model.)

J. B. GQWDY.

' FENCE POST.

Patented July 4, 1893.

Mww@ N /NV/VTOH BY my@ A TTOHNE YS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. GOVDY, OF OAK GROVE, ILLINOIS.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,883, dated July 4,1893.

Application iiled November 1 1892. Serial No. L50,625. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES B. GOWDY, of Oak Grove, in the county ofMcLean and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Fence-Posts, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to iron fence posts with which both wire and`board stretchers may be connected, or which may have horizontal studdingfor paling fences fasten ed to them, and it consists in a novelconstruction of said posts, having weights or brick fillings of novelcharacter in the lower portions of the posts, for firmly anchoring thelatter in the ground to prevent upheaval of the posts by frost workingout of the ground, and for otherwise steadying and securing the postsand holding the fence in position, substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l represents a view in perspective of a fence post, withstretchers in part applied, embodying my invention; Fig. 2, an elevationof the same; Fig. 3, a horizontal section upon the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;Fig. 4, a view in perspective of one of the bricks used in iilling upand anchoring the lower part of the post; and Fig. 5, a view inelevation upon a larger scale, of the upper part of the post in part,with a wire runner in part applied.

A, indicates the post, which is made either of wrought or cast iron andall in one piece. It consists essentially of two parallel uprights ZJ,b', of unequal length or height, arranged to leave a space c betweenthem and joined together at their base or lower ends and above bybar-like connections CZ, d, thus forming a broad vertically slottedlower end portion which mainly or wholly enters into or beneath theground, and constitutes a holder or receiver for bricks C, as a fillingto anchor and give stability to thepost. The one b of the uprights ismade of twice the height, more or less, of the other upright b andprojects suficiently above the ground for the attachment of thestretchers running from post to post. When said post is constructed ofwrought iron, it will be made from a bar suitably bent and fastened orclosed Where the two uprights join each other above, either by a rivetor a bolt e, as desired. lf a bolt be used, the brick-holding portion ofthe post may be spread slightly apart at the top by the insertion of achisel inthe closing portion of the bar, which will allow of tightfitting bricks C being inserted and so that on tightening up the bolt,the bricks will it somewhat tighter than if the closing portion of thepost were secured by a rivet. It' a rivet be used, however, instead ofthe bolt, the brick may be easily inserted as hereinafter described.

The bricks O may be of the usual size but are each formed with a groovef in one face to provide for their retention and to enable them to beslid into place vertically, in close hug or side engagement with theuprights or such portion of the uprights as is designed to receive thebrick lling in between them. These bricks are arranged in couples backto back, one couple above another, in a1l,.gen erally, three couplesmade up of six bricks. This will virtually make a brick base to the postof considerable depth and sufficient width to rxnl'y anchor and steadythe post and keep the fence in line.

When the weighted anchoring post is constructed of wrought iron closedor fastened by a rivet or otherwise where the two uprights b, I)`l areconnected, then the bricks may be inserted, one of each side couple at atime, and t-he second or companion brick be entered in the post abovethe other and be slid by its groove down to the side ot or behind theother.

The upright b extending above the ground has fence wires g locked to itby bending them into a Z-shape opposite holes in the upright, and saidwires then locked to the post by staples h which are clinched on theback of the post. Thus each fence wire is locked laterally1 to keep thewires taut. The holes s for thus securing the wires or stretchers aremade just sufficiently elongated and wide for insertion of the staples.lt is preferred to make said holes in couples of about four inchesapart, more especially for the fastening of one or more board stretchersto take the place of the wires, and a short distance is allowed ICObetween the tirst set of wires nearest the ground; but the upper wiresor stretchers may be arranged with a longer distance between them or alonger distance be arranged between the holes s s which provide forsecuring the wires by staples to the post, so that by means of largeclinch or wire nails 7l, fence boards 7a may be secured to the post.

Board stretchers might be substituted for the wire stretchers, ifdesired, or horizontal studs for paling fences be fastened to the postsby bolts or otherwise. 'The lower wires or stretchers are arrangedcomparatively close to the ground to prevent pigs or smallA animals frompassing through the fence.

In the construction of the t'ence post as described, the shorter uprightb helps to hold the bricks C and braces the other or long upright b, andthe post whether of wrought or cast iron can be cheaply made. Said postis brick rooted and is so anchored to the ground by the two lower bricksthat it will not be upheaved by the frost when coming out of the groundin the spring of the year, and the pairs of bricks above the two lowerones will slide up with any upheaving of the ground and then fall backwhen the ground settles, thus preventing any upward strain on the post.

The depression and bulge v in the longer upright b just above the lowestbricks, serve to assist in upholding the weight of the two uprights andthe stretchers of the fence, so

that the post will not sink too deep into the ground.

Having thus fully described my invention, l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. The combination with a fence post having abroad and vertically slotted or laterally open lower portion, ofanchoring weights mounted loosely within said space, whereby the saidweights will slide up with the upheaving of the ground and fall backagain when the ground settles, thereby preventing any upward strain onthe post, substantially as described.

2. An improved fence post, consisting ofthe two parallel uprights b b'of unequal length joined together at their lower ends and connectedabove by the bar d forming a rectangular space c, and the grooved bricksC, arranged in pairs in the said spacel substantially as described. o

c, as speciied.

JAMES B. GOWDY. Witnesses:

CHUR E. READ, HARRY C. READ.

